WH Spox On Carson Media Scrutiny: ‘It’s Not Easy to Run for President,’ ‘It Shouldn’t Be’

Monday at the White House press briefing, press secretary Josh Earnest said the media vetting of Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson was “appropriate” and “good for our democracy.”

“This process is good for our democracy,” Earnest said to a question from ABC News White House correspondent Jonathan Karl. “It’s not easy to run for president. It shouldn’t be. And people when they make public comments are going to have their claims scrutinized, even if they are claims about their own biography. And that is part of the process and it was difficult when those questions were raised about Sen. Obama It is particularity difficult when some of those claims or question were — I guess in 2008 I recall a situation in which it was lass the claims of President Obama that were being questioned and more that the claims about him were difficult to disprove at least to the satisfaction of our harshest critics,”

“What is true now is a situation that you have Dr. Carson’s own claims that he has long been making and written about that are being subjected to scrutiny and that is an important part of the process it ensures that whomever emerges form this difficult process is somebody that is capable of leading the country,” Earnest added. “But most importantly it gives voters the opportunity to carefully consider the candidate views and claims in depth.”

When asked if these are appropriate questions that Ben Carson is facing, Earnest said, “I happen to think they are but ultimately that is for the American people to judge.”